Adhesive for dentures and method for its production

ABSTRACT

An adhesive for dentures comprising a paste-like carrier substance to which hydrocolloids are admixed. In order to obtain an adhesive which is entirely benign from a health viewpoint, the carrier substance consists of honey mixed with alcohol.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an adhesive for dentures with a paste-like carrier substance, to which are added hydrocolloids, and to a method for producing such an adhesive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Known denture adhesives comprise petrolatum, paraffin oils, white oil and the like as carrier substances, to which carrier substance are added copolymers made of vinyl chloride, vinyl methylether, polyvinyl acetate and the like in order to increase the adhesive effect. As a result of the penetration of saliva these adhesives are rinsed off the denture over time and reach the stomach, so that after daily use over several years a health hazard arises. The addition of hydrocolloids which are to bind the saliva can delay such rinsing, but not prevent it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an adhesive of the kind mentioned above which even in the case of permanent use does not entail any health hazard. Moreover, a method for the rational production of said adhesive is to be provided.

[0004] This object is achieved by the invention in that the carrier substance consists of honey mixed with alcohol, with the carrier substance preferably containing beeswax and the carrier substance can preferably be mixed with suitable for food hydrocolloids such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, guar seed flour or the like.

[0005] In accordance with the invention, a fully suitable for food adhesive is obtained which even in the case of any washing away from the denture and any swallowing cannot lead to any health hazard. In order to achieve the required stability of the carrier substance and thus being able to utilize its adhesive force to the full extent, the honey used must substantially lose its water solubility, which entails a change to the structure of the honey. This change is effected by the addition of alcohol which leads to an esterification or waxification of the honey. By adding beeswax it is then possible to further reduce the limited water solubility and by the addition of suitable for food hydrocolloids penetrating humidity is absorbed and bound in the usual manner and thus the durability of the adhesive effect is prolonged. Suitable hydrocolloids are in particular sodium carboxymethly cellulose which is used in the production of icecream or sodium alginate E 401 which can also be used in the production of soups or guar seed flour which is also used for producing delicatessen foodstuffs. A suitable for food denture adhesive is produced with a perfect and sufficiently long adhesive effect, which moreover is completely tasteless and therefore does not need any addition of flavors.

[0006] In order to produce the adhesive, the honey is heated in accordance with the invention until a dry solid honey mass is obtained and alcohol is added to the honey mass. After the complete absorption of the alcohol by the honey mass, the alcohol-honey mass is again dried by heating and comminuted into powder and thereafter the alcohol-honey powder is mixed into a paste-like mass by stirring under addition of alcohol, whereupon said mass forming the carrier substance is heated and mixed with hydrocolloids. In order to limit the water solubility of the honey to the required extent, the honey is heated first until a dry solid mass is obtained, whereupon pure alcohol is added to said dry solid honey mass. In order to ensure that the alcohol can be absorbed completely, it is necessary that the honey mass which is treated with alcohol is allowed to stand for not less than 24 hours in a hermetically sealed manner. A process of esterification or waxification of the honey occurs, which reduces the water solubility and makes the mass tasteless. After the absorption of the alcohol the alcohol-honey mass is heated again, so that residual alcohol will evaporate and a solid mass is obtained again which is then comminuted and ground into a powder in a suitable mill. The alcohol-honey powder is then placed in a stirrer where under the addition of alcohol it is mixed until a paste-like mass is obtained which is spreadable and can be used as a carrier substance. It is then only necessary to mix the hydrocolloids into said paste-like mass and the adhesive is finished.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if in addition to the production of alcohol-honey powder a powder mixture made of dry honey powder and beeswax powder is prepared and said powder mixture is added to the alcohol-honey powder before the alcohol-honey powder is mixed under the addition of alcohol. The beeswax offered on the market in small plates is ground into powder and thoroughly mixed with the dry honey powder. Dry honey powder is understood as vacuum-dried and pulverized honey which is mixed with 20% by weight of lactose. The power mixture thus obtained is then added to the alcohol-honey powder and mixed with said alcohol-honey powder by the addition of alcohol into the carrier substance. The dry honey powder has a low water solubility, and thus also reduces the water solubility of the adhesive honey and facilitates the introduction of the beeswax into the honey mass.

[0008] Favorable production conditions are obtained when honey is heated to 200° C. for producing the alcohol-honey powder and the dried honey mass is mixed with alcohol at equal parts by weight, when for preparing the powder mixture 100 parts by weight of dry honey powder and 14 parts by weight of beeswax powder are mixed together and thereafter 20 parts by weight of powder mixture are added to 100 parts by weight of alcohol-honey powder, when 30 parts by weight of alcohol are added to 100 parts by weight of the powder mass of alcohol-honey powder and the powder mixture and the mixture thus obtained is mixed slowly, preferably up to 12 hours, and up to 60 parts by weight of hydrocolloids are added to 100 parts by weight of the paste-like mass, with the mass being heated to approx. 30 to 40° C.

[0009] To produce the adhesive, the honey is therefore heated in a respective vessel up to 200° C. until a dry solid mass is obtained, whereupon 100 parts by weight of pure alcohol are added to 100 parts by weight of said honey mass. The alcohol is slowly absorbed by the honey mass, whereby the alcohol-honey mass must rest well-enclosed for at least 24 hours until the alcohol has been fully absorbed. The alcohol-honey mass is thereafter heated to approx. 120° C. in order to allow the residual alcohol to evaporate and dried until a solid mass is obtained again. It is now comminuted and ground into alcohol-honey powder. Simultaneously, a powder mixture of dried honey powder and beeswax powder is prepared, with 14 parts by weight of beeswax powder being added to 100 parts by weight of dried honey powder, which powder mixture is now mixed with the alcohol-honey powder; 20 parts by weight of the powder mixture are added to 100 parts by weight of alcohol-honey powder. This overall mixture is thereafter placed in a stable stirrer, where 30 parts by weight of alcohol are added to 100 parts by weight of the mixture and are mixed until a paste-like mass is obtained, namely the carrier substance, which may take up to 12 hours. Thereafter, suitable for food hydrocolloids are added to said paste-like carrier substance by adding at least 60 parts by weight of hydrocolloids to 100 parts by weight of carrier substance, with the carrier substance being heated to approx. 30 to 40° C. for the purpose of thoroughly mixing the carrier substance.

[0010] A fully suitable for food and thus benign adhesive is thus obtained which is tasteless, offers a perfect adhesive effect and substantially only consists of honey or honey powder, beeswax, alcohol and suitable for food celluloses or similar hydrocolloids. 

1. An adhesive for dentures with a paste-like carrier substance to which hydrocolloids are added, characterized in that the carrier substance consists of honey mixed with alcohol.
 2. An adhesive as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier substance contains beeswax.
 3. An adhesive as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the carrier substance is admixed with suitable for food hydrocolloids such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, guar seed flour or the like.
 4. A method for producing an adhesive as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that honey is heated until a dry solid honey mass is obtained and alcohol is added to the dried honey mass, that after the complete absorption of the alcohol by the honey mass the alcohol-honey mass is again dried by heating and comminuted into powder and that thereafter the alcohol-honey powder is mixed into a paste-like mass by stirring under addition of alcohol, whereupon said mass forming the carrier substance is heated and mixed with hydrocolloids.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that in addition to the production of the alcohol-honey powder, a powder mixture of dry honey powder and beeswax powder is prepared and said powder mixture is added to the alcohol-honey powder before the alcohol-honey powder is mixed under the addition of alcohol.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that honey is heated to approx. 200° C. for producing the alcohol-honey powder and the dry honey mass is admixed with alcohol at equal parts by weight.
 7. A method as claimed in one of the claims 4 to 6 , characterized in that for preparing the powder mixture 100 parts by weight of dry honey powder and 14 parts by weight of beeswax powder are mixed together and that thereafter 20 parts by weight of powder mixture are admixed to 100 parts by weight of alcohol-honey powder.
 8. A method as claimed in one of the claims 4 to 7 , characterized in that 30 parts by weight of alcohol are added to 100 parts by weight of the powder mass of the alcohol-honey powder and the powder mixture and that the thus obtained mixture is slowly mixed, preferably up to 12 hours long.
 9. A method as claimed in one of the claims 4 to 8 , characterized in that up to 60 parts by weight of hydrocolloids are mixed into 100 parts by weight of the paste-like mass, with the mass being heated to approx. 30-40° C. 